A Lady of Hidden Intent

by Tracie Peterson

  “Oh, that question,” she said rather breathlessly.

  Carter released her and leaned back against the carriage. “I love you more dearly than I can even say. When I came back from Washington and found you were gone, I could hardly think for the need to know that you were safe.”

  He looked at her and found that she was smiling. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I realize we don’t know what the future will hold, but I love you and I want to take care of you. Please say you’ll marry me.”

  Catherine nodded. “I will. I love you and, with exception to seeing my father again, cannot think of anything I want more than to marry you.”

  He laughed, knowing no greater joy as he pulled her back into his arms. “I told you that you should have bought extra material.”

  Her laughter joined his as she slipped her arms around his neck. “I did.”

  CHAPTER 29

  It’s been six weeks,” Catherine protested. “We should have had some word by now.”

  She and Carter sat in the carriage outside the Danby house. It had snowed throughout the day and even though it had stopped, the winds gusted from time to time and rocked the carriage. “Try not to worry. Lee won’t take one minute longer than is necessary. He knows how hard this is for you. He is a man of great compassion.”

  “Are you certain we shouldn’t wait and talk to your family later?” she asked.

  He thought she looked frightened. Today they planned to tell his parents that they were engaged. Carter had refrained from telling them until his father’s crisis at the mill had passed. Once his father reluctantly agreed to an extension on the loan, the tensions eased, and now there was even a new investor interested in pledging great support. Things were looking up for the Danbys.

  “They won’t attack you, I promise.” He grinned and put his arm around her. “When my mother realizes the great gown designer is to be her daughter-in-law, she’ll soon overlook our delay in letting them in on the secret.”

  “I hope you’re right. I would not wish to cause further problems in your family.”

  “My family is quite good at creating problems all by themselves. You really needn’t worry about interjecting any help in that area.”

  Catherine smiled. “I think I shall be very happy as your wife.”

  He nodded. “I know you will be, because I will make it my job to see that you are more than content. Now come along. The sooner we greet them, the sooner we can be on our way.”

  Wilson was there to faithfully meet them at the door. He took their coats and informed Carter that the family was assembled in the large drawing room.

  “I told them I was coming by with someone and that I had important news.”

  “Will you tell them the news about the design competition first?”

  Carter shrugged. “I’m not sure. We’ll see what kind of mood they are in.”

  He ushered Catherine into the blue-and-white room. His mother sat by the fire, bent over her embroidery stand. She seemed quite intent on working at her pattern and didn’t even look up. Carter’s father sat on the opposite side of the room, reviewing some papers, while Winifred read a book on the settee.

  “Sorry we kept you waiting,” Carter announced. “The snows were quite deep.”

  “Is it still coming down?” his mother asked. Still she did not look up.

  “No, but the winds are still a bit strong and the snow has drifted in the streets.”

  He led Catherine to the settee. She took the seat beside Winifred, who grasped her hand affectionately. Carter was glad for their friendship. His family would never be easy to live with, even from Washington or England.

  “Mother, I believe you know Catherine. Although I daresay you know her by the name Shay. Her true name is Catherine Newbury.” At this his mother glanced up.

  “Miss Shay! How delightful.”

  “Newbury, Mother. Miss Newbury.” Carter turned back to wink at Catherine. He knew she’d rather be anyplace but here. “Catherine, you know my mother, Mrs. Danby, but this is my father.”

  “Mr. Danby,” she murmured in acknowledgment.

  “So, what is so important that you gathered us here today?” his father asked, putting aside his papers. He eyed Catherine intently, and Carter could see that it made her uncomfortable.

  “There are two announcements I wish to make. First, Mr. Fulbright and I received word just this morning that we are to be awarded two of the competition projects in the capital.”

  “What does that mean?” his mother asked anxiously. “Will you move to Washington?”

  “Yes. It is most likely that I will.”

  “Oh, but that’s so very far. I could hardly bear it. Would you come home often?”

  “I would come to Philadelphia on occasion to oversee the current projects I have designed. Mr. Montgomery’s house won’t be completed for another few years, and I have been asked to design a new house for Leander and Winifred.” He smiled at his sister, then looked back to his father, who had now come to stand by the fire.

  “He must be quite well off if he’s building a new house,” his father said, rubbing his chin. “Perhaps we could interest him in an involvement with the mill.”

  “Lee is a lawyer, Father. He keeps quite busy with his work,” Carter replied. He looked to Catherine and met her gaze. He lost himself for a moment in her expression. She smiled at him and broke the spell.

  “There is also a second announcement I wish to make. Catherine has agreed to become my wife.”

  “But she’s a seamstress,” his mother declared.

  “She is also the woman I love, and so much more,” Carter said. He stood behind Catherine with his hands on her shoulders. “Catherine comes from a well-to-do family in Bath, England. Leander has gone there, in fact, to accompany Mr. Newbury to America, where he can rejoin Catherine and be a part of our wedding.”

  “Why is she working as a seamstress if she is well-to-do?” his father questioned.

  Winifred looked at Carter and he nodded. She jumped up to interrupt. “Did I tell you that Leander and I plan to marry as soon as he returns?”

  “What?” their mother exclaimed. “But that is too soon. You said he might return any day now. What of our plans? You haven’t even picked out a gown.”

  “But I have. Catherine and I have worked together and she designed a beautiful dress. The final fitting will be tomorrow. You should come and see it, Mother. I know you’ll love it.”

  “But you’ve said nothing about this,” their mother said.

  “And I’ll not have it said my daughter rushed into marriage as though it were necessary,” their father countered.

  “I thought we would plan a dress together,” their mother said, sounding very disappointed.

  “I wanted to surprise you,” Winifred said.

  “ ‘Surprise’ is hardly the word for it. Weddings take time to arrange,” Mrs. Danby said, shaking her head. “How can I possibly have the matter concluded in such a short time? What if Mr. Arlington comes home tomorrow?”

  “We want a very small wedding. There is no need to make a big fuss. I already told you we could marry in the ballroom.”

  Their mother fanned herself with her hands. “Yes, but there are flowers to order and invitations to be sent. You truly have no idea.”

  Carter was relieved to see his mother’s focus turned from his own engagement to Winifred’s wedding. He knew Catherine had tensed when his father had questioned why she was working as a seamstress. They had agreed to tell the truth if absolutely necessary but otherwise planned to refrain from bringing up the past. If Mr. Newbury wanted to remain in America, after all, there was no need having his reputation put into question because of the past.

  “Oh, this is all so much to consider,” Mother said.

  “When will you leave for Washington?” Carter’s father asked.

  “By the middle of March. They want to break ground by the end of the month, provided the temperatures are warm enough.”
r />   “And will you marry before then?”

  “Yes. As soon as Catherine’s father arrives, we plan to arrange the wedding.”

  “Two weddings in such a short span of time!” his mother declared. She got to her feet and began to pace the floor. “It’s quite impossible.”

  “Mother, no one is asking you to do anything in regard to our wedding,” Carter said. “We want a very simple arrangement. A private ceremony without any pretense.”

  “Pretense? I’m sure I do not know what you mean. You are a Danby. Society will demand you marry very publicly. Surely you won’t shame your family this way. If you marry in secret, people are sure to talk.”

  Carter shook his head. “There will be no shame in our wedding, I assure you, and people will talk whether we marry in two weeks or two years. Now, if you’ll excuse us, the Arlingtons are expecting us to join them for supper.” He helped Catherine to her feet.

  Winifred embraced Catherine. “I’m so glad that you will be my sister.”

  “I am too,” Catherine answered.

  A new idea seemed to dawn on his mother. “Oh, I will be the envy of every woman in town. I will have the most soughtafter dress designer as a daughter-in-law.” She clapped her hands together. “What great fun this will be.”

  Catherine had never been happier to leave a place in all of her life. She got into the carriage and sighed in relief as Carter closed the door and took a seat beside her.

  “I thought it all went rather well,” he said, taking hold of her gloved hand.

  “Your father was not happy.”

  “My father is never happy unless he’s in control of a matter. He’s just looking for ways to bolster his bank account. But enough of them. We will put the matter behind us for the time.” He drew her hand to his lips and kissed her fingers.

  “I wish Leander would return,” Catherine said, leaning against Carter’s arm. “What if something has happened to them?”

  “We would have heard,” Carter replied. “Stop fretting. Instead, tell me what kind of house you would like to live in. We shall have to find a place to live in Washington.”

  “Carter, I have to see to my father first. You know that,” Catherine said, straightening. She turned to eye him very seriously. “He might need a great deal of care. It may be the reason we’ve not yet seen them return. He might be too sick. Leander might even return alone and tell me I need to go to England.”

  “And the stars might all fall from the skies tomorrow,” Carter said, smiling. “You really do worry too much.”

  “I am simply trying to be realistic about this. Father is important to me.”

  Carter nodded. “And to me. You know that very well.”

  “You are so good to me. I never thought I could be so happy. My life seemed over before it had begun, and yet God had other plans.”

  “I’m just glad I’m a part of those plans, Miss Newbury.”

  They reached the Arlington house and waited for Joseph to open the carriage door. To Catherine’s surprise, lights seemed to blaze from nearly every window. “Goodness, but it seems the entire house is glowing.”

  Carter alighted from the carriage and noted the appearance as well. Snow thickly blanketed the lawn, but the servants had cleared a path to the door. “Well, come along. We shall see what awaits us.”

  They didn’t have to wait long. Just then the door opened, and Lee came bounding down the steps. Catherine’s breath caught in her throat. Leander had returned. She looked to Carter as if for reassurance.

  “Carter! Catherine! We’ve been waiting for your return.” He embraced Carter briefly, then turned to Catherine. “We were beginning to think we should send out a search party.”

  “We?” Catherine asked softly. “My father?”

  “Yes.” Lee nodded and gave her an enthusiastic hug. “He is here. See for yourself.”

  Catherine glanced up to see her father standing in the open doorway. “Father!” She forgot about the slippery walk and hurried to greet him. Rushing up the stairs, she threw herself into his embrace. “I can’t believe you are finally here.”

  “Oh, Cat, is it really you?” He held her tightly and sobbed. “I thought I might never see you again. Oh, my despair nearly caused me to give up all hope.”

  She pulled away, tears streaming down her face. “I nearly gave up as well.”

  He smiled. “But now we are here—together.”

  Studying him hard for a moment, Catherine was amazed at how well he looked. She could only pray that he had suffered no permanent harm. “Are you well, Father?”

  “Yes. The duke treated me very well, and in his care I recovered from all sickness. When Mr. Arlington showed up to take me to you, I must say I was in better shape than I’d been in five years.”

  “Do you suppose we could take this inside—preferably by the fire?” Leander questioned. “The wind is chilling me to the bone.”

  Catherine smiled. “I’m sorry. I suppose I got a little caught up in the moment.”

  Her father put his arm around her as they moved inside. “You look so much like your mother. My, but you have grown into a beautiful woman. Mr. Arlington told me you were sewing for a living when he first met you.”

  “It’s true. I worked in a sewing house here in Philadelphia, and I designed gowns. I’ve earned quite a reputation. My employer expects my work to become as popular as any French designer’s creations.”

  He shook his head and laughed. “I can scarce believe it. I knew you to be an industrious child, but who could have expected this?”

  They went into the brightly lit room, and Catherine got a better look at her father. He seemed to have aged considerably, but his color was good. “How I have missed you.”

  his color was “And I you.”

  Catherine thought of their home in Bath and of her father’s business. “Did the Crown return our home and your ships?”

  Her father’s expression seemed strained for a moment. “They gave me a healthy sum of money to allow me to make the decision as to where I would live and what I would do for a livelihood. The ships have long since been sold to service elsewhere, as was our home. I thought it better this way.”

  “I suppose so.”

  “The duke did offer me my choice of several properties, but I wanted to speak to you before making further decisions.”

  Someone cleared his throat behind Catherine and it startled her. She turned to find Carter grinning at her. “Why don’t you give your coat and gloves, and then introduce me to your father.”

  She smiled and began to unfasten the buttons. “Father, this is—”

  Her father stepped forward to take Carter’s hand. “The man who wishes to marry you,” he interjected. “Mr. Carter Danby, if I’m not mistaken.”

  CHAPTER 30

  The duke had cleared much of the way for Mr. Newbury by the time I arrived,” Leander told the gathering of people in his parents’ sitting room. “He had managed to track down the crew and other witnesses. Not only that, but with his help, Finley Baker was captured.”

  “Did he confess?” Catherine questioned.

  “No, but he didn’t have to. The mounting evidence was revealed, and witnesses came forth to bear testimony that it had been Baker all along who had masterminded the slave trade onboard the Newbury ships. Further evidence revealed by your father’s bookkeeper showed the double set of records. The man was given immunity from charges if he would willingly testify to being bribed by Baker and paid to keep the matter from Mr. Newbury.”

  “And all of it under my nose,” Newbury said, shaking his head.

  Catherine gripped her father’s hand to remind herself that he was really there—really safe from harm.

  “Your father is free and his reputation has been restored to him,” Leander added.

  “It’s a happy ending to a horrible nightmare,” her father told them.

  “I should say so,” Mrs. Arlington said, shaking her head. “A more fragile person would not have survived. You
are a remarkable man, Mr. Newbury, but that does not surprise me. Your daughter is also quite impressive.”

  Catherine saw him smile. His pleasure was evident. “She is that,” he murmured.

  “Lee, Carter . . . let us go and give Catherine some time alone with her father. We can come together again for supper,” Judge Arlington suggested. Even now he was reaching for his wife’s hand. “Come, my dear.”

  Catherine was grateful for the judge’s sensitivity to her need. She waited until everyone had gone and the sitting room door had been closed before falling into her father’s arms.

  “I missed you so much,” she sobbed, unable to stop the tears. “I worried every day about what they were doing to you and what horrible conditions you might have to endure.”

  “It was not easy, I will not lie. However, it is not something we should dwell on either. I will not tell you stories of my time in prison, for it is not for such delicate ears. But I will say this: My freedom is so much more precious than ever before.”

  Catherine sniffed back tears and raised her head from his shoulder. “And what would you like to do with that freedom, Father?”

  He smiled. “Live my life to the fullest. I don’t want to waste even a moment.”

  She frowned and looked away, uncertain of how to broach plans for the future. Would he expect them to return to England? Or did he even plan to return?

  “You seem troubled, Cat. What is it?”

  “I . . . well . . . you know about Mr. Danby—Carter.”

  He smiled. “That he wishes to marry you? That he was responsible for seeing me set free?”

  “Yes.” She bit at her lower lip. “Father, I’ve already told Carter that we needed to wait and see what your situation turned out to be. If you were sickly and needed help, I wanted to make certain you knew I would be there to care for you. I also wanted your blessing.”

  “Cat, you always have my blessing. Mr. Danby seems to be a remarkable young man. Mr. Arlington tells me that your Carter’s faith in the Lord is quite strong. He also tells me that Carter is a man of determination and sensibility. Would you agree?”